The total applied voltage in a series circuit is ______ the sum of the voltage drops across the resistors in the circuit.

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Multiple Choice

The total applied voltage in a series circuit is ______ the sum of the voltage drops across the resistors in the circuit.

Explanation:
In a series circuit, the same current flows through every component, and all the energy supplied by the source is dissipated as voltage drops across the resistors. By this rule, the total voltage supplied must equal the sum of the individual drops: V_source = V1 + V2 + ... . Since each drop is Vi = I Ri and the current is the same through all resistors, adding the drops gives V_source = I(R1 + R2 + ...), which confirms the total applied voltage is equal to the sum of the voltage drops.

In a series circuit, the same current flows through every component, and all the energy supplied by the source is dissipated as voltage drops across the resistors. By this rule, the total voltage supplied must equal the sum of the individual drops: V_source = V1 + V2 + ... . Since each drop is Vi = I Ri and the current is the same through all resistors, adding the drops gives V_source = I(R1 + R2 + ...), which confirms the total applied voltage is equal to the sum of the voltage drops.